Developers vs. public

A highlight of my morning is retrieving my freshly printed copy of The Star Ledger from the driveway. However, when I opened the paper on a dreary Monday morning, the headline "Developers boost idea of tolls for Rts. 78, 80" made my blood boil.
First of all, what is the function of a developer other than to exploit New Jersey's dwindling land and fragile environment?
Second, is there a need for developers? What do they do other than round up cronies, pool money, purchase land and hire more cronies to cut down trees, raze the land and build housing of dubious quality?
Third, what gives them a voice that is heard above the people of this state? Clearly, they are already rich, their contractor cronies choke our highways with "self-inspected" vehicles and I'm certain that the lot of them do not pay their fair share of taxes.
I hate Mondays.